The Façade We All Know Too Well: Makeup

A very significant moment in a girl’s life is when her mother first buys her makeup. Be it as simple as a pink blush, eyeliner or maybe even a mascara- that’s how it was for me. This moment is a symbolic commencement of something much greater than what it initially appears to be: it’s the beginning of a ride full of revelations, self-discovery and finding her identity as a young lady in the world. At this point, you may be thinking ‘How can tinted chemicals continue to have such a great meaning in the life of this thirteen-year-old girl?’.

From the outside, makeup is known to make one look prettier; to further accentuate one’s features, making the person look overall more attractive. But, the reality is that it makes you more ‘beautiful’ by hiding what you see as ‘ugly’. That’s how an insecurity is born. You are the only individual who has a problem with your face. The rest of the world doesn’t see your features as unattractive; it’s your fear that they will, and that you’ll be judged for it. Your insecurity is the self-doubt of you not being good enough to be accepted into society in your rawest form.

If you don’t like the way your skin tans, you use foundation.

Insecurity: covered.

If you hate how your skin appears to be blemished around your chin, you use a concealer.

Insecurity: veiled.

If you dislike how round your face is, you use a contour stick to give yourself a more structed face.

Insecurity: camouflaged.

And just like that, you’re no more looking at the mirror to see a face full of faults. You saw what was wrong with you disappear, or rather, cloaked, and what lays in front of you right now is the most beautiful version of yourself- or what you think is the most beautiful version of yourself. You have a newfound confidence with which you can conquer the world. But out of every new quality you got in the last few minutes, it’s this confidence that is the most attractive. More than winged eyeliner, more than glossy lips, and more than the highlight on your cheekbones. It’s the poise in how you can lift your chin and walk, because you’re no more afraid of what people might think of your acne; it’s the grace with which you carry yourself, because finally, you no more hate the person you’re trapped inside. You look into a mirror and smile, because who you see- you absolutely adore.

It’s crazy to think how a few colors here and there transformed the way you see about yourself. But this is not how it should be. It shouldn’t take you makeup worth $500 to like who you are. Makeup is a delightful way of self-expression, but its purpose isn’t to conceal your imperfections. Your flaws are what make you human. Learn to love the gorgeous mess you are, because no amount of makeup can replicate that. No one can be you, even if they wanted to. And lastly, no one can love you if you don’t love yourself. So, the confidence that makeup gives you- try to get it regardless. Tell yourself you’re beautiful, because you are.